First of all, we would like to thank you for choosing Integrated Foundation Solutions to complete your foundation and/or drainage repairs. As a service-oriented company, we understand how difficult this process can often be as well as some of the concerns and questions that it can produce. Many times, people will not ask questions so as not to sound dumb or because they do not wish to bother us. Please feel free to speak with us or your inspector about any questions you may have. Foundation repair can be a scary event for some people and we wish to make it as smooth of a process as possible. Your home is one of your single greatest investments and we respect that. To help with some questions you may have, we have put together a short list of questions that we have received in the past. I hope that within this list is the answer to all of yours. If you do not see it on here or wish to speak to us about the process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
How much do you charge for a Foundation Inspection?
Integrated Foundation Solutions offers a FREE inspection of your foundation that includes a digital report of our findings along with a detailed repair plan. Schedule your free inspection today.
How much does it cost to get my foundation repaired?
That is a very good question! As you know, in Texas, many homes are affected by foundation problems. Every home is different and may require a different repair plan. So, the best way to decide what the cost of repairs, is to have one of our foundation specialists analyze your home for the best repair plan. We feel that this step is so important, that is why we offer it to you at no charge.
Do you provide references?
Yes! We most certainly do! Feel free to ask us for our list of references or you are welcome to visit our testimonials page.
Do you warranty your work?
Yes!
After installation, will my sheetrock or brick crack?
Sheetrock cracks that occur during a foundation repair are the result of old sheetrock separations going back into place during the actual lift. If these earlier cracks were repaired in some fashion or painted over, it is very probable that they will show it. Many times, however, these cracks don’t form for 3-4 weeks following the repair. This is caused by the wood timbers in the walls which were previously warped and are now reforming to their original intended point.
Should I do anything to help with the process?
Yes. An ounce of prevention is greater than a pound of cure. If at all possible, take items off of shelves on walls which are going to be affected by the lift. Although the movement is slight, it is repetitious which can cause some items to tip over and break.
There’s dirt all over my yard and I don’t want to be left with a mess!Is this normal?
Absolutely. All of our work is hand dug for the piers. The dirt is usually placed on tarps and/or plywood. Once the work is completed, the soil which was removed is placed back into the holes. The excess soil will be used to grade/slope away from the foundation either where we did our piers or where you have a low spot – if possible. If you prefer not to have the low spots filled in, please just let us know and we can conveniently haul it off.
Why do I need a plumbing report?
The plumbing report is a safety net for both you and I. There is a myth that foundation repair always causes plumbing leaks. In reality, foundation repair EXPOSES previous plumbing leaks. When the weight of the house is lifted off of the pipes, any plumbing leak will begin to expose itself. When this occurs, if we are not aware of it, there can either be a large mess or structural problem which should be dealt with ahead of time. A plumber will let us know if we should pull off of a job due to plumbing or not. It should be noted that on pier & beam homes, initial plumbing reports are not as effective since the plumbing can be seen by the naked eye.
Why do I need an Engineering Report?
You do not always NEED an engineering report. However, in over 95% of the homes that we repair, the engineering report is a must. The other functions of the engineering report are to insure a proper plan of repair, assist with issues that may arise during the actual lift and finally provide an assurance that the work was done properly once completed so that the home qualifies for a loan. An engineering report is also a requirement to pull the permit in most metro cities. If your city requires a permit, they require an engineering report to pull it. Some cities require that the permit be in the window of our truck while others just request that we file for one for their records.
Who do I give my payment to?
If your funds are due at the time of completion, we request that you give the check to the crew chief before they leave. If the payment is via credit card, then we ask that you call the office with the crew chief to provide the Credit Card number to the office for processing. If the office is closed due to a late completion time, then we request that you give the information to the crew chief so that he can put it into the office manager’s over night safe for next-day processing. We will always mail you a paid invoice with your warranty packet.
When do I get any paperwork on the job like reports, receipt, etc?
Once the work is completed, we schedule to have final reports completed (assuming initial engineering or plumbing reports were completed.) Once we receive this information back from the respective companies, we begin processing your packet to mail to you. This process varies by job and takes two-weeks on average which includes mail time both ways. If you haven’t received your packet after two-weeks, we request that you contact us to have us re-issue a new packet. The original packet has all original documents, so new ones will have to be requested which can take up to a week.
What should I do if the Plumbing Company found a plumbing leak?
Unless we’ve had to pull off of the job, most likely it’s not a huge ordeal.According to plumbing companies around the metroplex, about 30-40% of the homes that they perform test on will test positive for sewage leaks. It is possible to get a false positive due to unknown variations in design from home to home, but you will want to have it looked at as soon as possible. You can either contact the plumber that was contracted to perform the evaluation or use a plumber of your choice.